Automatic door closing and locking mechanism for vehicles.



W. HOBHM.

Patented May 5, 1914.

a SHEETS-SMM 1.

AUTOMATIC DOOR CLOSING AND LOCKING MBGHANISMPOB VEHICLES.

' APPLIGATION PIILHD JUNE ze, 1913. 1,095,634.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH CG.,\VASH1NGTQN. D. c.

VPatented May 5, 1914.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. HOBOHM.

AUTOMATIC DOOR CLOSING AND LOCKING MBCHANISM FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0..wAsH|NGToN, D. c.

W. HOBOHM.

AUTOMATIC DOOR CLOSING AND LOCKING MBCHANISM FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE ze, 1913.

1,095,634, Patented-May 5, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

'UNITE STAT PAET AUTOMATIC DOOR CLOSING AND LOCKING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILHELM HoBoHM, subject of the German Emperor, residing at 10 Taubenstrasse, Berlin, W., Germany, have invented a certainV new and useful Improved Automatic Door Closing and Locking l\Iechanism for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic doorclosing and arresting mechanism for vehicles, and more particularly for passenger vehicles, motor-road vehicles and railway carriages of the type in which the door is automatically closed and in which mechanism is provided for arresting the door in a partly open position.

In apparatus of this type it has usually been possible to re-open the door by press ing against it from the inside. In other cases, the arresting mechanism prevented the door from being opened at any time beyond the position of arrest unless the arresting mechanism was put out of operation.

The object of the present invention is to provide a door-arresting mechanism which normally enables the door to be fully opened but operates on the closing of the door to arrest the door in a partly open position should the door bolt or latch not engage, so that the door cannot be re-opened until the arresting mechanism is manually released, as for example, by turning the door knob or handle to retract the door bolt or latch. By this means the door may be arrested in a partly open position, should the door not be sutliciently closed as to enable the bolt or latch to lock the door, while preventing accidental or unintentional re-opening of the door either on the start-ing or stopping of the vehicle or by a passenger leaning against the arrested door.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example the preferred construction of my improved door-closing and arresting mechanism.

Figure 1 is a side view of the mechanism with the cover-plate removed. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the mechanism Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. J' une 28,

Patented May 5, 1914.

1913. serial No. 776,406.

' showing the same applied to a carriage door. `Fig. '3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 showing the position of the parts when the door is fully open. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views. corresponding to Fig. 2 showing the door 1n its closed7 part open and fully open position respectively, the position of the parts in Fig. 4 corresponding to that shown in Figs. l and 2, and the position in Fig. 6 corresponding to that shown in Fig. 3.

1 designates any usual type of carriage latch having a sliding bolt 2 operated from a handle 40 by means of the tumbler 41 in the usual manner. Adjoining the latch 1 and secured to the door in any suitable manner is a casing 3 extending over the whole width of the door and within which is located the automatic doorclosing mechanism. Fixed within the casing 3 is a block 4 carrying a spring pawl 5 which, when the door is in its closed position as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, rests upon the front face of a slide block 7 having a notch 6 therein adapted to engage with the pawl 5 when the door is partly open. Slidab-ly mounted upon guides 31 within the casing 3 is a carriage or like member 8 connected to two springs 9 secured at their other ends at 10 to the casing 3, the carriage having rearwardly projecting spring detents 11 provided at faces 12 and 15J the inclined face 1Q. being adapted to rest against the correspondingly inclined end of the slide block 7 so as to rigidly connect the block 7 with the carriage 8. Secured to the block 7 is a crossbar 14 connected to springs 13 connected at their other ends to hooks 32 projecting from the carriage 8 so that the block 7 is furthermore connected to the carriage 8 through the springs 13.

The `block 7 is connected to one end of an articulated link chain 19 secured at its other end to the door frame 18. In lieu of a link chain 19 a steel band or rope or any other suitable equivalent capable of withstanding a certain amount of longitudinal thrust may be employed. The chain 19 is guided through the opening of the door over a roller 2O mounted in the side ofthe door. Suittheir rearward ends with inclined or cam` able guideways 21 serve to guide the block 7 in its movement on the opening of the door, the guidcways 21 terminating at their rear ends in spring fingers 22 adapted, when the block is in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, to grip the block 7 and thereby counter-balance the returning action ot the springs 13, so that the door remains in its fully open position as illustrated in Fig. G. Slidably mounted in the block 4 and either connected to or bearing against the bolt 2 is a rod 23 passing through the carriage S and provided at its rear end with a plate 25 having an inclined rear edge 2-1 adapted to move within a corresponding slot 2G in the forward end of the block 7. rIhe rod is provided with a collar 33 adapted to abut against the block L1 and to form an abutment for one end of a spring 23l whose other end bears against the carriage 8. In the drawing the rod 23 is shown adapted to abut against the bolt 2 and moves within the carriage S with sufhcient friction as to be drawn to the rear therewith on the opening of the door as shown in Fig. 3. This facilitates the true engagement of the plate 25 with the slot 26 in the block 7 on the closing of the door. lt will be seen that when the plate 25 moves across the notch (j in the block 7 the pawl 5 will be released or prevented 'from engagement with the notch G.

The rear part of the door-closingmechanism is covered by means of a cover-plate 34- adapted to form an additional guide tor the block 7 and link chain 19, and secured at one end to the cover-plate 341 and at its other end to one end orn a steel. band 28 is a spring 27. the other end of the steel band being secured to the door iframe 18. The purpose of the steel band 28 is to protect the chain 19 when the door is open as in Fig. G. and the spring 27 and band 28 may be protected by means of a casing 30.

rlhe operation of' the mechanism is as follows: To open the door the bolt 2 is retracted in the usual manner by turning the handle 10, at the same time pushing the rod 28 toward thel rear and causing the plate 25 to extend across the notch 6 in the block 7 and thus prevent the pawl from engaging with the notch 6 on the opening of the door. As the door opens the chain 19 pulls the block 7 backwardly together with the carriage 8 against the action of the springs 9 through the medium of the detente 11 connecting the block 7 with the carriage 8. The carriage S continues to move bachwardly with the block 7 until the inclined faces 15 of the detents 11 are forced outwardly and engage the inclined faces 16 of guideways 17, the outward movement of the detents 11 releasing the carriage 8 from the block 7. The carriage 8 then remains in the position illustratcd in F ig. 3, the springs 9 being in tension. @n the further outward movement of the door the block 7 is further retracted and the springs 13 are now stretched until the block 7 is grasped by the fingers 22, which prevent a return movement of the block 7. The door is now in its fully open position as illustrated in Fig. G.

@n the closing of the door the chain 19, owing to its capability of withstanding a certain amount of longitudinal thrust, overcomes the action of the spring lingers 22 and commences to return the block 7 whereupon the springs 13 relax and, being somewhat wealier than the springs 9, commence to slowly close the door until the block 7 is returned to such an extent that the inclined 'faces 12 of the detents 11 may again engage with the block 7 thereby releasing the carriage S and enabling the strong springs 9 to come into action to close the door. The notch (S of the block 7 thereby rides over the pawl 5 without engaging therewith. Should the door, however` not completely close under the action of the springs 9 as may happen when an obstacle is caught between the doo and its frame. the pawl 5 will enter the notch G, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and prevent the door from being accidentally opened. 1t will be understood that` should the door so nearly close that the notch (3 moves over the pawl 5 without engaging therewith, a slight pressure to reopen the door will cause the notch (l to return until it engages with the pawl 5, so that the door will in any case be prevented from unintentional opening.

When arrested in its partly open position the door may be readily released by turning` the handle al() and thus causing the bolt 2 to move the rod 23 and plate 25 to the rear and disengage the pawl 5 from the notch 6 in the manner already described. whereupon the door may be fully opened.

l claim 1. In combination with the latch of a hinged vehicle door, a` catch, and rel xasing means operated by the latch rctracting mechanism to temporarily release said catch and enable the door to be fully opened. said catch positively arresting the door lin a partly-open position on the closing ot the door.` should the latch not engage, until again released by 1re/actuation oit said releasing means.

2. ln combination with the latch ot a hinged vehicle door. arresting mechanisni comprising a fixed member and a member moved by the opening and closing of the door and adapted to engage said fixed men ber to arrest the door, and releasing` means operated by the latch retracting mechanism to temporarily disengage said members and enable the door to be fully opened7 said members engaging with each other to po-si- Jtively arrest the door in a partly-open posit-ion on the closing or' the door, should the latch not engage, until again disengaged by re-actuation of said releasing means.

3. The combination with a hinged vehicle door, mechanism for retaining the door in its partly closed position comprising a fixed member, a movable member coacting therewith and mounted on the door, and a flexible connection from said movable member to the door frame capable of withstanding a certain amount of longitudinal thrust.

t. In combination with a hinged vehicle door, a movable member on the door, a flexible connection between said member and the door frame, spring members adapted to be connected With said movable member when the door is closed and to be successively tensioned by and released from said movable member on the opening of the door and to relax successively in reverse order to automatically close the door.4

5. In combination With a hinged vehicle doo-r, a movable member on the door adapted to be moved by the opening and closing of the door, main springs adapted to effect the final closing of the door, auxiliary springs Vadapted to effect the initial closing of the door and mechanism for coupling said main springs to said member when the door is closed, to cause said main springs to be tensioned when the door is opened, for unconpling said main springs and holding them in tensioned position and for tensioning said auxiliary springs from said member after the main springs have been tensioned.

6. In combination with a hinged vehicle door, a movable member adapted t0 be moved by the opening and closing of the door, main springs adapted to effect the final closing of the door, auxiliary springs adapted to effect the initial closing of the door, detent mechanism connecting said main springs to said member during the initial opening and final closing of the door, and for retaining said main springs in tensioned position, means cooperative With said detent mechanism for connecting said auxiliary springs to said member during the final opening and initial closing of the door, and means for holding said auxiliary springs in tensioned position.

7. In combination with a hinged vehicle door, a movable member on the door, a flexible connection between said member and the door frame, spring members adapted to be connected With said movable member When the door is closed and to be successively tensioned by and released from said movable member on the opening of the door and to relax successively in reverse order to automaticallv close the door, and means for frictionally holding said movable member in retracted position when the door is fully opened.

8. In combination with. a hinged vehicle door, a latch, a notched member movable on the door, a flexible connection between said member and the door frame, a fixed spring pawl for engaging the notch in said member, a paivl disengaging element, and a rod actuated from said latch to move said element.

9. In combination with a hinged vehicle door, a movable member on the door, a flexible connection between said member and the door frame, a sliding carriage, springs fixed at one end and connected at the other end to said carriage, detents carried by said carriage and adapted to engage said member, guides for retaining said detents in engagement with said member during the first part of its movement on the opening of the door, springs connected at one end to said carriage and at the other end to said member, and a friction clamp for said member for holdingv it at the end of its movement on the opening of the door.

l0. In combination With a hinged vehicle door, a latch, a notched movable memberon the door, a flexible connection betvveen said member and the door frame, a fixed spring paWl for engaging the notch in said member, a paivl disengaging element, a rod actuated from said latch to move said element, a sliding carriage, springs fixed at one end and connected at the other end to said carriage, detents carried by said carriage and adapted to engage said member, guides for retaining said detents in engagement with said member during the first part of its movement on the opening of the door, springs connected at one end to said carriage and at the other end to said member, and a friction clamp for said member for holding it at the end of its movement on the opening of the door.

1l. In combination with a hinged vehicle door, a latch, a notched member movable on the door and having an open-ended slot in the end nearest the latch, a flexible connection between said member and the door frame, a fixed spring pawl for engaging the notch in said member, a slidable spring-returned rod normally bearing against the latch bolt, and a flat plate carried by said rod and having an inclined end face adapted to fit into the slot in said member.

12. In combination Wit-h a hinged vehicle door, a movable member on the door, a flexible connection between said member and the door frame, a sliding carriage, springs fixed at one end and connected at the other end to said carriage, detents carried by said carriage and adapted to engage said member, guides for retaining said detents in engagement with said member during the first part of its movement on the opening of the door, end of its movement on the opening of Athe for releasing said Carriage from Said memdoor. l0 ber at the end of the first part of the move In testimony whereof I have aHiXed my ment and for simultaneously retaining said signature in presence of two Witnesses.

5 carriage in its then position, springs con- VILHELM HUBOHM.

neet-ed :it one end to Said Carriage and at Vitnesses: the other end to said member, and a friction HENRY HASPER, ciamp for said member for holding it at the VOLDEMAR HAUPT.

Copies of lchis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

